The results are in, after four weeks of voting in the 10Best Readers' Choice travel award contest for Prettiest European City, and Riga, the capital of Latvia - is the top winner. Latvia lies south of Finland, at the mouth of the Daugava River, which spills into the Baltic Sea. Igor Grochev Getty Images/iStockphoto

The 2014 European Capital of Culture is only beginning to get the attention it deserves. This "Gem of the Baltics" combines a pulsating big city vibe with a UNESCO-listed Old Town and one of Europe's richest cultural scenes. Alexander Tolstykh Getty Images/iStockphoto

Riga has also been called the "Paris of the East," thanks to its historic old town filled with art-nouveau buildings, towering churches and colorful houses. Aleksandrs Jeme?janovs Getty Images/iStockphoto

The city's dramatic skyline makes an impact at sunset, when its spires, steeples and turrets are silhouetted. Mariss Balodis Getty Images/iStockphoto

Readers' Choice runner up for Prettiest European City, Bergen, is surrounded by the breathtaking hills and fjords of Norway. The brightly colored timber houses of the picturesque town surround the boat-filled Vågen Harbour at its center. Oleksiy Mark Getty Images/iStockphoto

After hosting two Winter Olympics, Innsbruck -- coming in third -- has become one of the largest ski resorts in the Alps. Its distinctive architectural look also makes use of vibrant colors. Flickr/James Cridland

Our fourth place finisher Dubrovnik, one of Europe's most beautiful and majestic walled cities, has recently come into its own as a stylish European destination. Dubrovnik Tourist Board

In Chester, England - voted into fifth place by our readers - Roman walls surround a charming collection of Tudor and Victorian buildings, and a delightful shopping district filled with half-timbered shops. It's reminiscent of a Grimm tale. Flickr/jimd2007

Six-place finisher Prague, Europe's "Golden City," gives Paris a run for its money when it comes to beauty and romance. Centuries-old stone bridges spanning the slow Vltava River, cobbled lanes and busy public squares, all in the shadows of Romanesque, Gothic and Art Nouveau spires make Prague one of Europe's most popular capitals. Maria Arkhipova Getty Images/iStockphoto

Straddling the Danube River in Hungary, Budapest is dotted with grand palaces, baroque monuments and Gothic cathedrals, a few Art Nouveau and neoclassical structures thrown in for good measure, earning it a number seven spot in the top 10. Flickr/Dennis Jarvis

The natural beauty of the Greek Islands reaches its crescendo on eighth-place Santorini, thanks in part to the quintessentially Greek blue and white color palate of the buildings and churches that cascade down the outside of a volcanic caldera toward the azure waters of the Aegean Sea. Flickr/Klearchos Kapoutsis

The beauty of Venice, our ninth place finisher - is both timeless and world renowned. This former European trade port - built entirely on the water - appears almost dreamlike with its pastel buildings, stone palaces and gondola-filled canals. Getty Images Getty Images

Rounding out the top 10, Bruges, Belgium packs a heavy punch when it comes to visual appeal. As one of the world's best preserved medieval cities, Bruges is brimming with cobbled lanes, ancient canals, baroque and Gothic buildings and monuments. Allard1 Getty Images/iStockphoto

The following 10 cities all earned nominations for the 10Best.com Readers' Choice for Prettiest European City. Those with an appreciation of the Italian Renaissance style love Florence, with its domed cathedral, wandering medieval streets and hilly landscape in the backdrop. Flickr/echiner1

Valencia, Spain's third largest city, displays a proud, contemporary beauty quite unlike any other city in Spain. Cutting edge architecture, a charming old quarter and a prized location along the Mediterranean Coast have made the city a favorite short-break getaway destination. Flickr/Maribelle71

The beauty of Paris is undeniable, and it can be seen in every layer of the city, from the towering Eiffel Tower to the invaluable works of art housed in some of the world's best museums. Goodshoot Getty Images/Goodshoot RF

London has a diverse beauty. Its modern architectural wonders, like the Shard, are juxtaposed with iconic landmarks like the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and Gothic-style Houses of Parliament. Fesus Robert Getty Images/iStockphoto

Located on the southern coast of Mallorca Island, Palma de Mallorca attracts millions of visitors a year. They come to bask on the golden sand beaches, people-watch from its street-side cafes, take in the overwhelming beauty of the towering Gothic cathedral and stroll the streets of Old Town or the palm-lined promenade. Flickr/Andrés Nieto Porras

Located about an hour from the French Alps at the location where the Saône and Rhône Rivers meet, Lyon has long been known as the gateway to the alps and the culinary capital of France. Flickr/FaceMePLS

Cobbled streets, Gothic cathedrals, meandering canals all set the stage for timbered houses adorned with colorfully bursting flower boxes. Strasbourg, capital of the Alsace wine-growing region, is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Flickr/Francisco Antunes

Copenhagen, Denmark's picturesque capital city, is also considered one of the most livable in the world, its beauty accented by copper spires, canals, cobbled streets and a cleanliness that most European capitals would envy. Joris Van Ostaeyen Getty Images/iStockphoto

Located just outside of Amsterdam, Leiden's beauty is classic Dutch, with bridge-spanned canals, gabled houses and classic windmills completing the skyline. This birthplace of Rembrandt becomes even more stunning in spring when its street market overflows with colorful tulips. Flickr/Metro Centric

Lugano, located on a lakeside in the Italian-speaking part of
Switzerland, has a heady mix of tropical flowers, palm trees, cobbled
streets and Mediterranean-style plazas backed by snow-capped Swiss Alps.
For an Italian coffee with a view, it doesn't get much better than the
cafes scattered along the flowery lakeside promenade. Flickr/FaceMePLS

The medieval streets of top winner Riga are both narrow and colorful, lined with structures that recount the architectural history of the city from 1201 to the present. gorsh13 Getty Images/iStockphoto

Historic buildings in the old city make evident Latvians' love of color. Rocter Getty Images/iStockphoto

Riga is even more beautiful during the holidays, when the cobbled streets are dressed in snow and Christmas lights adorn the buildings. It's easy to see why Riga won the title of Prettiest European City. Valerijs Kostreckis Getty Images/iStockphoto